Charlap began playing piano at age three.[2] He later studied classical music, but he has remained most interested in jazz.

Career

Charlap and his mother recorded two duet albums, Love Is Here To Stay (2011) and "Something To Remember" (2013). Charlap has recorded seven albums as a leader or co-leader for the Blue Note Records label, including two Grammy-nominated CDs: Somewhere, featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, and The Bill Charlap Trio, Live At The Village Vanguard. For the Japanese label Venus Records he has recorded two albums as a leader, as well as eight albums as a member of the New York Trio.

Charlap appears at least twice a year for lengthy runs at some of the world's major jazz clubs, including the Village Vanguard,[7] with his rhythm section, consisting of Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums). In addition to appearing and recording with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington in the Bill Charlap Trio, since 2001 Charlap has also recorded as a member of the New York Trio for the Japanese label Venus Records. The other members of the New York Trio are bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart.[8]

Charlap replaced Dick Hyman as Artistic Director of New York's 92nd Street Y "Jazz in July" six program series after Hyman's 20th year in 2004. He married Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes in New York City on August 25, 2007.[9] The pair released an album of piano duets Double Portrait on Blue Note Records/EMI.[10]

In 2008, Charlap became part of The Blue Note 7, a septet formed that year in honor of the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. The group recorded an album in 2008, Mosaic, which was released in 2009 on Blue Note/EMI, and toured the United States in promotion of the album from January until April 2009.[11] The group plays the music of Blue Note Records from various artists, with arrangements by members of the band and his wife Renee Rosnes.

On November 29, 2012, Charlap was the pianist accompanying Tony Bennett at the wedding reception of Liz Lemon on NBC's30 Rock.

Stardust (2002, Blue Note) (different from the 2008 Venus Records album of the same title)

Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein (2004, Blue Note)

Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul (2005, Blue Note)

Rolling Stone Original(?) (2005, Blue Note) (A selection of four solo piano recordings available as downloads through iTunes and Amazon.com; the "Rolling Stone Original" title listed on these sites may be incorrect.)